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PROPAGANDA
3/15/13 VOL. # ONE ISSUE #1
IT’S WAR TIME.
It’s war time and tensions are high as a U.S. military helicopter
flies through the dry air of a no-fly zone in Southern Iraq. Flanked by jet
fighters the helicopter continues its path across Iraq military ground
fighters, suddenly an explosion of hundreds of small paper leaflets scatter
the sky. As the aircrafts continue on their way the small messages gently
float down to the ground. A message, meant to reach the people and
undercut support for Iraq leader Saddam Hussein warns the Iraq military
to “Not target coalition warplanes” and the warning to ground fighters
saying “To tune into radio transmissions for details” and “You could be
next.”This is done in the hopes of preventing a counterattack and
undermining future battle plans.
Propaganda is defined as “information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a
person, group, movement, institution, or nation.” (Dictionary.com) Through the usage of images, commercials,
films, art work, signs and various types of media the messages used to influence or imply an idea is an element of
propaganda. Propaganda has always been a popular tool used during warfare, it is meant to be a psychological
approach at defeating your enemy or gathering support. Propaganda is often disguised as nationalism with the
message of the importance to support your country in the time of need.
“If people in the media cannot decide whether they are in the business of reporting news or manufacturing propaganda, it is all the more important that the public understand that difference, and choose their news sources accordingly.” –Thomas Sowell
The Middle East
U.S. Military helicopter dropping
leaflets in southern Iraq.
United States political propaganda
encouraging people to stop supporting
the Iraq war effort.
During war each side and or country
develops their own methods of utilizing
propaganda as a method to influence their people
and gain support. For example during the Iraq War
between 2003 and 2011 the United States faced a
conflict of portraying the difference between
“good” and “bad” Islam’s because they didn’t wish
to produce passionate reactions from Iraqi’s. There
has also been discussion of the U.S.’s tactics of
propaganda accusing President George W. Bush of
selling the “War on Terror” to the American
People. In outcome to this type of advertisement
Iraq has been overall been reflected negatively, not
just the Iraq Government, Osama Bin Laden and
Saddam Hussein, but the culture as a whole.
Similar to the U.S., Iraq also used
their own methods of evangelism. Through
violence and more threatening means they
created a rapid and effective tool of
propaganda. They used low-technology
methods such as graffiti art to distributed
flyers, leaflets and self-published
newspapers to gain support. These methods
seemed to be more effective and more cost
efficient compared to the United States
method. The Iraq insurgency also created a
television station to inform people about
the war and exploit the rumors and lies
Americans were telling about the war.
Flip Side
YOU’RE BEING AFFECTED TOO!
Tangible Brainwash
CHEAPER AND MORE
EFFECTIVE?
Iraqi insurgency propaganda leaflets and
flyers to gather support for the war.
United States political propaganda copying “uncle same” encouraging to
people to support the Iraq invasion.
As innocent people are influenced and pressured to support the
conflicts their governments have created by the tool of implantation, the subject
of psychological warfare grows to become more fascinating and frightening as
modern warfare adapts to the new customs of society. Psychological warfare is
meant to play on your emotions, behavior, reasoning and motives. Much like
propaganda it is issued to influence your opinions and evaluations of public
issues. It is used to guide your actions into their desired direction and overall
change your attitude in favor of their cause.
In war, all involved parties use this tool to gain support of their
people. This act of advertisement or “brainwashing” is not something only used
by the “enemy.” It is an aspect we all have seen and or faced if we are citizens
of countries that have been involved in conflict or who strive to achieve a
specific goal in need of the public’s support. The key is know how this
advertisement affects you as an individual, but overall how it will reflect your
society as a whole. Propaganda has been known to have lasting effects on the
psyche of people living through the constant messages drowning their
individual opinions. Even after war has ended or conflict has dissolved,
propaganda message leave after effects on the social groups they are affecting.
3/15/13 VOL. # ONE ISSUE #1
PLAYING THE GAME
PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE
During the Iraq War the
Middle East was a hot topic in the
media, art, television and various
Medias. These images and messages
have had a lasting effect on several
cultures associated with during the
war. Propaganda is not a method
only used by the “enemy” it is a tool
that is used to benefit the people in
power or warn the individuals on the
receiving end of conflict. The
messages relayed can institute several
emotions varying from, pride, loyalty,
and freedom, to anger, fear, and
panic. The art of advertising these
messages with the underlining trust of
the people in their government or
various organizations is what makes
this method effective on a wide range
scale of influencing hundreds and
thousands of people.
“All over the place, from the popular culture to the propaganda system, there is constant
pressure to make people feel that they are helpless, that the only role they can have is to
ratify decisions and to consume.”- Noam Chomsky
3/15/13 VOL. # ONE ISSUE #1
POST AGENDA
THE AFTER EFFECTS OF PROPAGANDA
The after effects of propaganda often leave tension between both parties and create obstacles hard for society to
accept or overcome. For example, after World War II in 1964 several Japanese- Americans and Asian-Americans
were still considered outsiders by other fellow Americans. Even after several hundreds of Japanese people
spending years in internment camps for the fear that they were helping the “enemy.” It wasn’t until 1988 that
congress passed and President Reagan signed legislation that apologized for the internment, recognizing that it was
based on prejudice, hysteria and poor political leadership.
The drastic effects propaganda institutes in people’s behavior can overall have lasting effects prolonging
the treatment in favor or against various political agendas. Therefore it is important to not always listen to the
media’s messages, but to gather as much facts as you can on the subject and make your individual decision based
on what you have learned.
Propaganda is used as a tool of manipulation during warfare time periods and the usage of
media is an element disguised with the political agendas of superiors in government positions.
Overall, Propaganda is used to gain support for or against a cause needed by the force of society to
succeed. This act of advertisement can have lasting effects on society that can cause years of tension
between opposing political parties, cultures or social groups. It is important to recognize propaganda
and realize the effects it has on society both negatively and positively.
Concluding
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